Best Schools in Placerville, California
24 schools · 10 Elementary · 4 Middle · 4 High · 6 Other
Choosing a school in Placerville?
Use this page to compare every school in Placerville by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Charter Alternative Program (cap)
Elementary · EL Dorado County Office of Education. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Indian Creek Elementary
Elementary · Mother Lode Union Elementary. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Charter Community School Home Study Academy
Other · EL Dorado County Office of Education. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Placerville for 2026 are Charter Alternative Program (cap) (8.5/10), Indian Creek Elementary (7.2/10), and Charter Community School Home Study Academy (7.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 17 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
24
19 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$527,900
home value · ACS
Districts
9
serving the city
Schools
24
19 public · 5 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$527,900
home value · ACS
Districts
9
serving the city
Rates 8.5/10 despite 36% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Placerville schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +3.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Placerville schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Placerville
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 17 rated schools; 24 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charter Alternative Program (cap) | 8.5 / 10 |
| 2 | Indian Creek Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Charter Community School Home Study Academy | 7.1 / 10 |
| 4 | Edwin Markham Middle | 7.0 / 10 |
| 5 | EL Dorado High | 6.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Ocean Grove Charter | 6.3 / 10 |
| 7 | South Sutter Charter | 6.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Herbert C. Green Middle | 6.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Sierra Elementary | 6.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Sutters Mill | 6.1 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.9/10
- Median household income
- $90,499
- Median home value
- $527,900
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 29%
- Avg commute
- 27 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 75%
22% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Placerville compares
California rank
#462 of 599
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.5
below California avg (6.3)
Median household income
$90k
91% of California median
Schools in this city
18
9 districts draw attendance lines through Placerville
Placerville is not one school system. 9 districts cut across the city limits, and the largest still holds only 26% of the public campuses.
EL Dorado County Office of Education is the largest slice at 5 of 19 public schools — not a majority. Choosing a Placerville address is choosing a district first.
Among 17 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.0 to 8.5 — the spread is inside Placerville, not a citywide average.
- EL Dorado County Office of Education5 public · 26%
- Placerville Union Elementary3 public · 16%
- EL Dorado Union High2 public · 11%
- Gold Oak Union Elementary2 public · 11%
- Gold Trail Union Elementary2 public · 11%
About Schools in Placerville, California
Placerville sits in the Sierra Nevada foothills of El Dorado County with 17 ranked public schools serving families across the area. The city's schools span elementary through alternative and special education programs, giving parents a range of options beyond the traditional district path. The average school score across all 17 ranked schools is 5.3 out of 10, which places the overall landscape in the middle tier nationally — meaning most schools here are average performers, and standout options are limited.
Only one school in Placerville — just 6% of ranked schools — scores 7 or above. That school is Charter Alternative Program (CAP), an elementary program that earns an 8.3 out of 10, making it the clear top performer in the city and a significant outlier above the local average. Families with elementary-age children who prioritize academic performance should put CAP at the top of their research list. Sierra Elementary trails at 6.9, followed by Charter Community School Home Study Academy and El Dorado County Office of Ed Special Ed Programs, both at 6.8. Gold Trail rounds out the top five at 6.4 for middle school families. Below that tier, the remaining schools cluster around the city average of 5.3.
The makeup of Placerville's top schools is telling. Three of the five highest-rated programs are non-traditional — a charter alternative program, a home study academy, and a county special education office. That pattern suggests families willing to explore charter or alternative tracks will find stronger options than the conventional neighborhood school assignment may offer.
For parents relocating to or within Placerville, the practical takeaway is straightforward: the gap between the top school and the city average is nearly three full points. Zoning to a neighborhood school is unlikely to land a student in one of the top performers. Research school options early, check enrollment windows for CAP and the Charter Community Home Study Academy, and verify current waitlist status — alternative programs in competitive markets fill quickly. Parents of middle schoolers have fewer choices at the top of the range, with Gold Trail at 6.4 representing the strongest traditional middle school option available.
Elementary Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 245 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.5 | ||
| 2 | 445 students · Kindergarten–4th | 7.2 | ||
| 3 | 422 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.2 | ||
| 4 | 230 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 6.1 | ||
| 5 | 378 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 | ||
| 6 | 288 students · Kindergarten–5th | 3.7 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | EL Dorado Adventist SchoolPrivate 66 students · Kindergarten–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Country Day MontessoriPrivate 6 students · Kindergarten–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | 6 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Leon LennoxPrivate 8 students · Kindergarten–2nd | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 404 students · 6th–8th | 7.0 |
| 2 | 374 students · 5th–8th | 6.3 |
| 3 | 268 students · 4th–8th | 6.0 |
| 4 | 147 students · 6th–8th | 3.0 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,195 students · 9th–12th | 6.9 | ||
| 2 | 102 students · 9th–12th | 4.8 | ||
| 3 | 19 students · 9th–12th | — | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Roundtree AcadamyPrivate 6 students · 1st–11th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 345 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.1 |
| 2 | 3,212 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.3 |
| 3 | 2,485 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.3 |
| 4 | 2,360 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.2 |
| 5 | 194 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.5 |
| 6 | 6 students · Kindergarten–12th | — |
Schools in Placerville
Placerville, California · 24 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$90,499
Median Home Value
$527,900
Median Rent
$1,408/mo
Population
36,286
College Educated
29%
Homeownership
75%
Avg Commute
27 min
Poverty Rate
9.9%
Community Profile
Placerville has a median household income of $90,499. It is an area where 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $527,900, with a median rent of $1,408/month. The local poverty rate of 9.9% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- California
- Elementary
- 10
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 4
- Other
- 6
Resources
School Districts (9)
Ocean Grove Charter District
1 school · 3,212 students
South Sutter Charter District
1 school · 2,485 students
Sky Mountain Charter District
1 school · 2,360 students
El Dorado Union High
6 schools · 6,541 students
Gold Oak Union Elementary
2 schools · 435 students
Gold Trail Union Elementary
2 schools · 498 students
Mother Lode Union Elementary
3 schools · 863 students
Placerville Union Elementary
3 schools · 1,204 students
El Dorado County Office of Education
6 schools · 809 students
Other Major Cities in California
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Placerville, California
How many schools are in Placerville, California?
Placerville has 24 schools, including 19 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Placerville, California?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Placerville is 5.9 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Placerville, California?
The top-ranked school in Placerville on MySchoolScout is Charter Alternative Program (cap) with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Placerville, California?
The top-ranked elementary school in Placerville on MySchoolScout is Charter Alternative Program (cap) with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Placerville, California?
The top-ranked middle school in Placerville on MySchoolScout is Edwin Markham Middle with a composite score of 7.0/10.
What is the best high school in Placerville, California?
The top-ranked high school in Placerville on MySchoolScout is EL Dorado High with a composite score of 6.9/10.
How many school districts serve Placerville, California?
Placerville is served by 9 school districts: Ocean Grove Charter District, South Sutter Charter District, Sky Mountain Charter District, EL Dorado Union High, Gold Oak Union Elementary, Gold Trail Union Elementary, Mother Lode Union Elementary, Placerville Union Elementary, EL Dorado County Office of Education.
What is the education level in Placerville, California?
According to Census data, 29% of adults in Placerville have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Placerville, California?
The median household income in Placerville is approximately $90,499 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Placerville, California?
Yes, Placerville has 5 private schools alongside 19 public schools. The top-rated private school is EL Dorado Adventist School with a score of 4.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Placerville, California?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Placerville is 16.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Placerville, California?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Best School Districts to Move To in 2026: A Data-Driven Guidebest schools
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, California Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.